Tag: New Zealand

The third day of the only Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was called off because of rain on Wednesday, with the match in danger of being washed out without a ball being bowled.

The one-off Test was supposed to start on Monday but the toss is yet to take place because of rain and the poor condition of the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium.

Afghanistan’s adopted home ground outside India’s capital at Greater Noida has been beset by problems, with rain falling since Tuesday night on an already waterlogged outfield that caused the first two days to be lost.

The venue, which is hosting its first Test, has come under scrutiny for lacking world-class facilities and basic drainage.

Electric fans have been used in desperate attempts to make sodden patches playable at the ground, which saw dry weather and sunshine on the previous two days.

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Ground staff dug up one wet area refilling it with dry soil and laying fresh turf.

Afghanistan have hosted several T20 and one-day internationals since 2017 at the venue and their cricket board have defended their choice of Greater Noida.

“We considered three potential venues in India –- Bengaluru, Kanpur, and Greater Noida,” they said Tuesday, noting the first two were “unavailable due to BCCI’s domestic matches”.

It is only Afghanistan’s 10th Test match.

Tim Southee’s New Zealand are due to travel on to Sri Lanka for two Tests beginning next week before returning for three more against India.

READ: Key players return as England announce squad for Pakistan Tests

GREATER NOIDA: Ground staff used electric fans in an increasingly desperate bid to dry out the pitch with the Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand stalled for a second day on Tuesday.

The one-off Test at Afghanistan’s adopted home near New Delhi was supposed to start on Monday but the toss is yet to take place because of rain and the poor condition of the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium.

On Tuesday groundsmen dragged out tarpaulin to cover areas of the pitch in anticipation of more rain, while others held electric fans over some of the worst wet patches.

Ground staff also dug up a wet patch — in the cover-point and mid-wicket region — and were filling it with dry soil and fresh turf.

Umpires are due to hold another inspection at 3:00 pm (0930 GMT) to assess a possible start time at a venue which is hosting its first Test and where drainage is basic.

Despite sunshine on Tuesday the outfield remains soaked after days of monsoon rain, and chances of play appeared slim for a second successive day.

The first day’s play of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was called off on Monday without the toss due to earlier rain creating a wet outfield.

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The New Zealand players threw rugby balls around as they waited for play, but the teams spent the morning on Tuesday marooned at their hotels.

Umpires made repeated inspections throughout Monday at Afghanistan’s adopted home ground near the Indian capital New Delhi at Greater Noida, the first Test at the venue.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has offered Afghanistan venues to train and host matches outside their troubled nation, including in the northern Indian cities of Lucknow and Dehradun.

Lucknow and Dehradun were preferred options for this Test by Afghanistan, but those grounds were busy with local leagues.

The press box at Greater Noida was initially an open-sided tent with a rug and chairs, without internet or power, but were shifted after complaints.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officials have been cautious about criticism, fearing it could spoil relations with the BCCI, but said they were disappointed.

“This is a huge mess. We are never coming back here,” an ACB official was quoted as saying by Indian media.

READ: Australia head coach reveals Steve Smith’s batting position for India Tests

GREATER NOIDA: The one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was delayed again on Tuesday, with the toss still yet to take place, after overnight rain.

The toss was scheduled for 9:00 am (03:30 GMT) on Tuesday, day two of the five-day contest. However, despite a sunny morning, the outfield remains damp following 10 days of rain.

Umpires will inspect the field at midday (06:30 GMT) to assess a possible start at the venue, which is hosting its first Test and where drainage is basic.

The ground staff dug up a wet patch in the mid-on area — a trouble spot since day one — and are attempting to cover it up with artificial grass.

The first day’s play of the one-off Test between Afghanistan and New Zealand was called off Monday without the toss due to earlier rain creating a wet outfield.

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Umpires made repeated inspections throughout Monday at Afghanistan’s adopted home ground near the Indian capital New Delhi at Greater Noida, the first Test at the venue.

Afghanistan has hosted several T20I and ODI since 2017 at the venue, which lacks world-class facilities.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has offered Afghanistan venues to train in and host matches outside their troubled nation, including in the northern Indian cities of Lucknow and Dehradun.

The minnows have played nine matches and lost six — including their bruising introduction when they lost the debut match against India inside two days.

After the one-off Test against Afghanistan, Tim Southee’s New Zealand will tour Sri Lanka for a two-Test series, then return to India for three five-day matches.

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New Zealand’s Kane Williamson admits he is a big fan of “phenomenal” Joe Root, believing England’s top-ranked Test batsman will break many more records.

New Zealand will begin their South Asia tour against Afghanistan in a one-off Test near New Delhi on Monday, ahead of two Tests in Sri Lanka and three more in India.

Williamson is one of the current generation of leading Test batsmen alongside Root, Virat Kohli of India and Australia’s Steve Smith, who were dubbed the “Fab Four” by late New Zealand great Martin Crowe.

“(Root) has been phenomenal, and I’m obviously a big fan of his,” 34-year-old Williamson told reporters at the Greater Noida ground on Saturday, the venue for the Afghanistan clash.

“I’ve enjoyed watching not just him, but obviously those other guys,” he said, referring to Kohli and Smith.

He called all three “amazing players” that have “moved the game forward in a big way”.

Root has been among the runs lately, in contrast to the dipping form of Kohli and Smith.

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The former England captain Joe Root has been in blazing form in recent weeks, scoring three centuries and three fifties in five home Tests, including hundreds in both innings against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

Root scored his 34th Test century in the process to go past Alastair Cook’s previous England record of 33 tons and now stands in seventh spot on the list of the all-time run-scorers with 12,390 runs.

India, batting great Sachin Tendulkar, tops the chart with 15,921 runs and 51 centuries in a glittering 200-Test career that ended in 2013.

Kane Williamson said Root, who is only 33 years old and has played 146 Tests, has the potential to surpass Tendulkar.

“There is a lot of attention on what he might achieve in the years to come,” he said.

New Zealand will be playing their first Test in six months when they take on Afghanistan, but Williamson said he felt confident.

“Playing for my country, for my team, makes me perform on the field,” he said, adding he was “very excited” to play six away Tests which will count towards the World Test Championship.

“In some ways, it’s like a tournament sport, even though it’s over a long period”, he said.

READ: WATCH: Chris Woakes bowls spin in third Test against Sri Lanka

New Zealand included promising seamers Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears on Monday in their Test squad to face Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as the Black Caps look to bounce back from their ICC T20 World Cup 2024 debacle.

New Zealand will play Afghanistan next month in a one-off Test in Noida, India, before facing Sri Lanka away in a two-Test series in late September.

It will be the Black Caps’ first cricket since crashing out of the T20 World Cup in the group stages last June following a shock defeat to Afghanistan.

O’Rourke and Sears are set to play their first overseas Tests. O’Rourke, 23, took nine wickets for 93 on his debut against South Africa in February.

While, Sears, 26, debuted in March with five wickets in a defeat to Australia.

“It’s always great when young guys force their way into squads through performance,” said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead.

“I know Will and Ben are really looking forward to the challenges of Test cricket in the sub-continent,” he said in a statement.

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All-rounder Michael Bracewell also returned to the Test squad for the first time since injuring his Achilles tendon and then breaking a finger.

He played one-day internationals in Pakistan last April and was in the T20 World Cup squad.

“Michael’s had to show plenty of resilience to rehabilitate his injuries and force his way back into the Black Caps across all three formats,” Stead said.

World-class batsman Kane Williamson has also been included in an experienced top order alongside veteran openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham.

Stead has opted for five spin options in Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Bracewell and Glenn Phillips.

The three September Tests begin a busy four-month period for New Zealand, who play three games against India in October and November before hosting three games with England in December.

New Zealand Test squad: 

Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Kane Williamson, Will Young

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Afghanistan will host former champions New Zealand for a one-off Test in India in September this year, Time of India reported Tuesday.

According to the details, the first-ever Test between the two sides will be played at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida.

Following receiving the Test status in 2017, Afghanistan have thus far played nine matches but are yet to face 2021 World Test Champions New Zealand in the format.

Reports further claimed that New Zealand, unlike their neighbours Australia, hold a completely contrasting stance on engaging in bilateral series against Afghanistan.

Notably, the relations between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) have been far from encouraging after the former entity pulled out of the three-match T20I series, citing deteriorating women’s rights in the Taliban-ruled country.

Cricket Australia said it had received advice “that conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan are getting worse” and postponed the three-match series scheduled in August, likely to have been hosted by the UAE.

“The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) expresses disappointment over Cricket Australia’s decision to postpone yet another bilateral series against Afghanistan and reiterates its stance on neutral and politics-free cricket across the globe,” said a statement.

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The decision was the third time since 2021, when the Taliban returned to power, that Australia have refused to play Afghanistan outside of international tournaments.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan have once again been given the nod by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to play their home matches in India.

Consequently, Afghanistan will be playing their first home match in India after a gap of almost four years.

According to the aforementioned report, the BCCI has allocated three home venues for Afghanistan, Greater Noida, Kanpur, and Lucknow.

Notably, the one-off Test against Afghanistan will serve as a stepping stone for New Zealand to prepare for their three-match series against India, scheduled in October-November.

Schedule for New Zealand’s three-match Test series against India

First Test: 16 to 20 October, Bengaluru
Second Test: 24 to 28 October, Pune
Third Test: 01 to 05 November, Mumbai

READ: Afghanistan break silence on rumours of boycotting Champions Trophy in Pakistan

Pakistan men’s cricket team is set to tour New Zealand in March 2025 to play the T20I and ODI series, confirmed by the New Zealand Cricket (NZC).

The cricket board revealed their complete schedule for the 2024-25 home season, where they will host England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They will play a total of three Test matches, six ODIs, and eight T20I matches during the period from November 2024 to April 2025.

The season will start with a three-match Test series against England in November-December 2024, followed by a white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka will play three T20Is and three ODIs from late December to mid-January.

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Following the Sri Lanka series, New Zealand will tour Pakistan for a tri-series with South Africa, scheduled in Multan from 8-14 February. The Kiwis will then participate in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, also scheduled in Pakistan.

The Green Shirts will tour New Zealand after the Champions Trophy to play a five-match T20I series, followed by three ODIs in March-April.

Pakistan last toured New Zealand in January earlier this year for a five-match T20I series under Shaheen Afridi. The home side won the series 4-1.

Schedule of New Zealand’s Home 2024-25 Home Season

Test series v England

First Test: Nov 28-Dec 2, Christchurch

Second Test: Dec 6-10, Wellington

Third Test: Dec 14-18, Hamilton

T20I series v Sri Lanka

First T20I: Dec 28, Tauranga

Second T20I: Dec 30, Tauranga

Third T20I: Jan 2, Nelson

ODI series v Sri Lanka

First ODI: Jan 5, Wellington

Second ODI: Jan 8, Hamilton

Third ODI: Jan 11, Auckland

T20I series v Pakistan

First T20I: March 16, Christchurch

Second T20I: March 18, Dunedin

Third T20I: March 21, Auckland

Fourth T20I: March 23, Tauranga

Fifth T20I: March 26, Wellington

ODI series v Pakistan

First ODI: March 29, Napier

Second ODI: April 2, Hamilton

Third ODI: April 5, Tauranga

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Right-handed experienced batter Kane Williamson shook the cricket fraternity on Wednesday as he stepped down as New Zealand’s white-ball captain following the team’s poor run in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Besides relinquishing captaincy, Williamson also declined New Zealand’s central contract in “an effort to prolong his international career”.

The announcement came a day after the conclusion of New Zealand’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, where they were eliminated in the group stages for the first time since 2014.

The 2021 finalists suffered gut-wrenching defeats against the West Indies and Afghanistan, the two teams that advanced to Super Eight from Group C.

Meanwhile, Kane Williamson reiterated his dedication to represent New Zealand at the international level and expressed his willingness to participate in eight World Test Championship (WTC) matches in the coming months and the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year.

Williamson, however, shared that he is open to exploring the possibility of accepting New Zealand central contract in future.

“Helping push the team forward across the formats is something I’m very passionate about and something I want to keep contributing towards,” Kane said

“However, pursuing an overseas opportunity during the New Zealand summer means I’m unable to accept a central contract offer.

“Playing for New Zealand is something I treasure, and my desire to give back to the team remains undiminished.

“My life outside cricket has changed however – spending more time with my family and enjoying experiences with them at home or abroad is something that’s even more important to me.”

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New Zealand Cricket (NZC) CEO Scott Weenink responded to Kane Williamson’s decision and stated that the experienced cricketer deserved the chance to take a break.

“This is a good way to help keep Kane in the international game so that he continues to play a major role for the BLACKCAPS – both now and in the years to come,” said Mr. Weenink.

“We have very little international cricket in New Zealand through January and outside that period he’s still available for the BLACKCAPS.

“NZC has a strong preference to select centrally contracted players for the BLACKCAPS, however we’re happy to make an exception for our greatest ever batter – especially as he remains so committed to the team.

“I know it sounds a bit counterintuitive, but I’m very encouraged by this development.”

For the unversed, Kane Williamson assumed New Zealand’s captaincy in 2016 and led the side in 202 matches across formats, winning 105 out of them.

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Veteran pacer Trent Boult has confirmed that the T20 World Cup 2024 will be his final appearance for New Zealand in the marquee tournament.

Since his debut in 2011, the left-handed pacer has been a key member of the BlackCaps’ golden generation, participating in multiple finals across all three formats for New Zealand.

One of the best exports of new-ball swing from his country, Trent Boult has picked up 81 wickets in 60 matches in the T20I format at an economy of 7.76. He was NZ’s leading wicket-taker in the 2014 and 2021 editions of T20 World Cups.

“Speaking on behalf of myself, this will be my last T20 World Cup,” stated Boult, following his two for seven in a dead rubber T20 World Cup 2024 fixture against Uganda.

Whether Boult will continue to play for New Zealand in any capacity remains uncertain as he had opted out of a central contract in 2022, choosing to play T20 franchise cricket around the world instead.

Despite the huge win against Uganda and a game left in hand, New Zealand have already been eliminated from the race to Super Eight of T20 World Cup 2024 with Afghanistan and West Indies clinching the two spots from Group C.

The Blackcaps began their campaign with a 84-run loss against Afghanistan. They then lost to co-host the West Indies by 13 runs. This is the first time New Zealand have failed to reach the semi-finals of a white-ball ICC World Cup since 2014.

“I think T20 cricket anything can happen. We’re devastated to not qualify. We’ve been outplayed earlier in the tournament and, we haven’t qualified for good reason so it’s unfortunate but that’s how T20 cricket goes,” Boult said.

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Reminiscing his journey, Trent Boult spoke about his friendship with fast bowling partner Tim Southee and the bond they have forged over the years.

“I look at it with very fond memories. We bowled a lot of overs together. I know the partnership very well, and obviously a very good friend on and off the ground. So yeah, nice to wind back the clock a little bit and see a bit of swing bowling at the top. Hopefully, a couple more still to come.”

For a cricketing nation which has had a lot of success and many proud moments in the last decade, the debate on whether this is the ‘end of an era’ had risen leading into the World Cup, one that has been fuelled since their elimination, “It’s a hard one to forecast,” Trent Boult said.

“I think there’s still some tremendous talent inside that dressing room and coming through the ranks in New Zealand cricket. So, we’re a proud nation and I think it will continue to go that way,” he concluded.

New Zealand will end their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign on June 17 against PNG at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad.

READ: Former cricketers react after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup exit

TAROUBA: A ruthless bowling performance, followed by Devon Conway’s quick knock helped New Zealand ease past Uganda in the 32nd match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 here at Brian Lara Stadium on Friday.

Set to chase a modest 41, New Zealand chased down the total in just 5.2, courtesy of Conway’s 22.

The Kiwi side started things cautiously as they lost Finn Allen, who scored 9 off 17, in the fifth over with 24 runs on the board.

However, Conway struck Juma Miyagi for back-to-back fours to finish the match in 5.2 overs. Conway scored 22 off 15 with the help of four boundaries.

For Uganda, Riazat Ali Shah picked the only wicket.

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New Zealand inserted Uganda to bat first and Trent Boult proved the decision right as he picked back-to-back wickets in the first over with one run on the board.

Uganda failed to recover after a disastrous start and kept losing wickets at an alarming rate. They were subsequently bundled out at a paltry total in 18.4 overs.

Kenneth Waiswa was the only batter to amass the double figures as he top-scored for the associate nation with 11. Whereas, Fred Achelam (9) was the only other notable contributor.

Tim Southee spearheaded New Zealand’s bowling attack with the bowling figures of 3-4, while Boult, Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra claimed two wickets each.

This nine-wicket victory was New Zealand’s first victory in the ongoing tournament after being knocked out after two back-to-back losses against Afghanistan and West Indies.

READ: “We can take on any one,” Jonathan Trott after Afghanistan’s Super 8s qualification